Carol Mendelsohn Inks Overall Deal With Sony Pictures TV

After a 14-year stint at CBS TV Studios, longtimeCSI showrunner Carol Mendelsohn is moving to Sony Pictures TV with a three-year overall deal. Mendelsohn has run the mothership CSI series since its 2000 launch and had been under an overall deal at CBS Studios, which produces the hugely successful crime drama franchise, since 2001. With her latest overall pact at the studio coming up, she was pursued by Sony TV brass who had had their eye on the veteran showrunner for a while. “Carol is a part of the fabric of television around the world and to work with someone who has not only created but sustains such an amazing global franchise is an honor,” said Sony TV president of programming and production Zack Van Amburg. Added fellow president Jamie Erlicht, “With her ability to tell stories that engage audiences everywhere, and the array of opportunities for great content, there is no limit to what we can accomplish together.”

Under the Sony TV pact, Mendelsohn will develop projects across broadcast, cable, and digital platforms through her Carol Mendelsohn Prods., led by president Julie Weitz. In addition to running CSI, Mendelsohn co-created its spinoffs CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and, most recently, the upcoming CSI: Cyber. She will continue as an executive producer of veteran CSI, which will now be run solo by co-showrunner Don McGill, and SCI: Cyber. Mendelsohn, repped by WME and Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer, honed her craft with Stephen J. Cannell and Aaron Spelling before joining CSI at the pilot stage. Weitz is repped by WME and Bloom Hergott Diemer.